The Golub Corp., which operates 125 Price Chopper supermarkets in six states and has headquarters in Schenectady, filed suit Thursday against another supermarket chain, alleging trademark infringement and other claims.
Golub filed a 12-page suit in U.S. District Court North District of New York against Wakefern Food Corp., which owns and operates retail ShopRite supermarkets. There are ShopRite stores in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New York, including a newly opened store in Niskayuna.
Golub spokeswoman Mona Golub said the corporation filed suit after discovering that consumers who clicked on a Price Chopper ad on the Internet were directed to ShopRite ads.
“They were involuntarily redirected to a competitor’s site,” Golub said. “We think that this is unethical, not legal and is akin to identity theft.”
Golub said the ad misdirection appeared to have ended on Friday.
The suit alleges that Wakefern infringed on the Price Chopper trademark, is engaged in false advertising and false designation of origin and engaged in unfair competition and dilution under the federal Lanham Act.
Golub is seeking an injunction and unspecified damages.
Wakefern spokeswoman Karen Meleta said the company had yet to be served Friday and that any comment would be speculative.
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Categories: Business
